Aeshna mixta
Aeshna mixta (Latreille, 1805)
Local names: Migrant hawker, Herbst-Mosaikjungfer, Paardenbijter, Æschne mixte, Höstmosaikslända
Species Information
Description
One of the smaller aeshnids, with a size like A. caerulea, B. pratense or A. affinis.
Males are rather dark with a base colour of brown, darkening to black. Females start out in a more reddish brown. Males have blue spots, both sexes have yellow spots. Especially immature ones. Distinctive is the dorsal spot on S2, triangular shape, a.k.a the "golf peg". It is more visible on males but females have it too. Thorax have conspicuous yellow bands on the sides. Antehumeral stripes are narrow, short and yellow. Eye colour varies but are all black on the back side, no yellow spots there like on A. juncea. Upper appendages are long, at least as long as S9 + S10 together.
Size
Habitat
Mainly reproducing in largely unshaded standing water, but also found in slow-flowing waters. It is found in a wide range of habitats, including brackish water, as long as the water is not too acidic. It is mainly found at large water bodies with abundant open riparian vegetation of reeds and bulrush. Large populations are found in both natural as artificial habitats.
Distribution
A. mixta has a wide spread range, extending from western Europe to Japan, but absent largely in Siberia. In Europe it is common in across the whole continent, apart from northern Fennoscandia, northern Russia, northern Ireland and Scotland. It is most abundant in southern and central Europe. A migratory species with a distribution range currently expanding northwards.
Flight Period
One of the later hawkers, mainly seen from August to September. But it can emerge already in May in southern Europe and can be observed into December.
Behavior
A fast and agile flyer, and very curious. Might well come around and check you out. Often seen in parks and gardens. Very high individual density can be found along coastlines, due to its migratory behaviours. Some years found in great abundance, populations having been added to by migrating individuals
from across seas and land. Females oviposit on high grass near the water.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Aeshna affinis, Aeshna caerulea, Brachytron pratense
External Links
Genus: Aeshna
Aeshna, or the hawkers or mosaic darners, is a genus of dragonflies from the family Aeshnidae. Species within this genus are generally known as hawkers in Europe or darners in America.
Identification
Aeshna spp. are best identified by excluding other aeshnid genera. The species generally have dark bodies with coloured bands on the thorax and their abdomen is basically dark with a mosaic of paired coloured spots. Males have auricles and an anal triangle of 2-4 cells (except I. isoceles).
Separation from other genera
Brachytron are the closest relative, from which the Aeshnas differ by numerous, although somewhat relative, features. These includes Brachytron having an early flight season, smaller size, hairier body, thinner pterostigma and abdomen not waisted. In the hand it is easier to study diagnostic details of venation and markings. Anax differs in shape and wing venation, but is ruled out in the field by the plain thorax and pale abdomen. They also have a black band on the upperside (except the conspicuous A. immaculifrons). Boyeria and Caliaeschna differ in wing venation.
Separation of the species
A large and diverse group. The majority of the world's species occurs in North America. Each species, except for a few pairs of similar species, has several unique features.
Behaviour
Often seen hawking (hence the common name) in open but sheltered places. I can be glades or gardens, as well as over open waters. Foraging individuals often concentrate at good sites, especially towards the end of the day. Males patrol swiftly over water, often aggressively territorial. They usually follow a fairly fixed and often extensive route, frequently interrupting direct flight with hovering pauses and dashes toward other individuals. A, affinis is the only species that oviposit in tandem with the male, all other Aeshna females oviposit alone.
Family: Aeshnidae
The Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies. The family includes the largest dragonflies found in Europe and North America and among the largest dragonflies on the planet.
Description
Common worldwide or nearly worldwide. Genera are Aeshna and Anax. The African Anax tristis has a wingspan over 125 mm, making it one of the world's largest known dragonflies. Most European species belong to Aeshna. Their American name darner stems from the female abdomens looking like a sewing needle, as they cut into plant stem when they lay their eggs.
The dragonflies mate in flight. The eggs are deposited in water or close by. The larvae (nymphs or naiads) are generally slender compared to those of other families, with a long and flat extensible lower lip (labium). The larvae are aquatic predators, feeding on other insects and even small fish.
The adults spend large amounts of time in the air and seem to fly tirelessly. They can fly forwards or backwards or hover like a helicopter. The wings are always extended horizontally.
The abdomen are mostly colored blue and or green, with black and occasionally yellow. The large, hemispherical, compound eyes touch in the midline. Individuals of this family have an extremely good sight, and are voracious insect predators.
A proposal has been made to split this family into Aeshnidae and Telephlebiidae.
The name may have resulted from a printer's error in spelling the Greek Aechma, a spear. The spelling Aeschnidae has been intermittently used over a period of time, but is now abandoned for the original name Aeshnidae. However, derived genus names (such as Rhionaeschna) retain the 'sch' spelling, as this is how they were first cited.